Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre
ARID ZONE RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
UMERKOT,
OBJECTIVES
i.
To establish a regional research capability under the
leadership of central / Arid Zone research Institute to tackle the problems of
arid/semi-arid agriculture of Thar and surrounding areas.
ii.
Develop technique of the best land use in the arid region of
Thar and adjoining irrigated belt of lower Sindh. Special emphasis will be
given to the following aspects:
a.
Identify constraints in the development of crop, Livestock
& Socio-economic problems in the region.
b.
Conduct research for finding solution to the identified
problems.
c.
Collect and analyze the statistical data for the arid zones
to determine the economics of various enterprise mixes.
MAIN DISCIPLINE OF
RESEARCH / SECTIONS WITHIN INSTITUTE
Land and water management
Crop Science
Range Management
TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPED/ACHIEVEMENTS
(I) Drip irrigation
System
Drip irrigation is
the frequent, slow application of water either directly onto the land surface
or into the root zone of the crop. Drip/Trickle irrigation is based on the
fundamental concepts of irrigating only the root zone of the crop (rather than
the entire land surface) and maintaining the water content of the root zone at
near optimum levels. Irrigating only a portion of the land surface limit
evaporation reduces weed in growth and minimizes interruption cultural
operations. Drip irrigation systems are often designed to supply water to only
the root zone of the crop. It has been observed from the experiment the growth
and yield is satisfactory of both Grafted ber and Falsa in the harsh condition
of
(II) Pitcher Irrigation
The good-old earthen
pitcher may no longer be merely the poor man's water cooler. It has found a
gainful application in agriculture as a micro-irrigation device in areas where
water is scarce or slightly brackish. The technology for supplying water to
plants through pitchers, evolved by AZRI (PARC) scientists, not only helps save
water but also facilitates good crop yield and better returns to the growers.
This eliminates wastage of water due to evaporation and over-supply even as it
meets the plants' water requirement in an optimal manner. Simply stated, the
pitcher irrigation technique involves burying pitchers in soil with their
mouths above the surface to facilitate filling of water and planting crop seeds
around them. The main advantage of the pitcher as a water delivery device is
its low cost and local availability. Unglazed pitchers are needed, which are
made by local potters all over the country.
(III) Introduction of
high yielding low delta crops
After long
continued screening studies two varieties namely SS-1 (Johar) sorghum and MS-1
(Bajra super-1) millet of PARC were selected and introduced among farmers of
both irrigated (Umerkot) and rain fed areas of Thar Desert. Initially these
were introduced in irrigated areas in 2002, where very encouraging results were
obtained. Sorghum SS-1 variety gave average yield from 35-40 mds/acre, where as
MS-1 between 28-30 mds/acre. The local variety yields between 7-8 mds/acre
usually. In Thar areas 2004 (92mm) 2005 (56mm) of rain the season was very dry.
The crop germinated well but could not performed very well, however during
2006, (340mm) of rain has been recorded. The seed was supplied to local Thari
villagers in a big gathering organized in collaboration with NGO namely SCOPE.
This year farmers are very happy. At one spot one seed of MS-1 gave 70 tillers
of Bajra.
CURRENT STUDIES
A. Development of
appropriate techniques for the optimum use of land and water resources in arid
conditions of
1. Evaluate performance
of Grafted ber and Chiku under drip irrigation system.
Zizyphus jojoba (Grafted Ber) and Chiku are growing successfully with
and without drip irrigation under desert land condition of Thar Desert from
March 2002 and September 05 respectively on more than 3 acres of land. The gap
filling of plants have been completed. To make the system more efficient, the
inter cropping of vegetables with grafted Ber and Chiku have been practiced
during Kharif 2006 season but due to scorching temperature the vegetables could
not survive. To utilize water more efficiently this modern irrigation technique
was introduced. The data is collected regularly.
2. Evaluate performance of vegetables under
pitcher irrigation system.
In order to save water and improve efficiency vegetables Pumpkin (Petha
Kadu), Coriander (Dhania) and Gourd (Kadu) were grown under pitcher irrigation
system. The average highest yield was
obtained from Gourd 5.6 kg/pitcher followed by Pumpkin 4.7 kg/pitcher and
Dhania as 4.2 kg/pitcher.
3. Screening of Sorghum, Millet and Maize varieties.
(MSM program)
New experiment conducted recently on the different methods (simple
pitcher, pitcher’s bottom painted with bitumen, pitcher’s warped with gunny
begs and conventional flood irrigation) alonwith different water quality
treatments, to assess the pitcher performance
4. Introducing high yielding drought tolerant
varieties
The experiments of sorghum, millet were conducted under rainfed
condition at the institute. The germination and growth is satisfactory and the
data is collected regularly. The experiments of Sorghum, millet and maize in
the irrigated area have been severely affected by heavy rainfall. The sorghum
and millet experiments are severely affected but the maize trials are
satisfactory.
Drought tolerant and high yielding varieties of Millet and
Sorghum were introduced in
B. Test and
disseminate high yielding drought tolerant crop varieties in
1. Cultivation
of Sesamean, millet, guara and mung beans on rainwater
Sesamum, millet, mungbean and guara are sown as a rainfed
crop at Umerkot. Sufficient rainfall is received this year and the crop is near
to harvest.
2. Silvopastoral studies.
Lasiurus scindicus and Panicum turgidum grasses along with
seven fodder and forage tree species are under study for their drought
tolerance, symbiotic association and effect on soil characteristics. In an
other study seven grasses viz Lasisurus scindicus (San), Panicum Turidum
(Murt), Antidotale (Chambole), Cenchrus setigerus cv (Modo Bhurt), Cenchrus
pennisetiforms (Bara Dhaman) were planted on rain with seed and through root
stumps. These species are highly palatable and high yielding. This produces
grasses for animal feed round the year.
3. Medicinal plants studies
Out of 40 medicinal herbs available at live herbarium of
Desert flora at AZRI Umerkot ten plant species are studied in detail each year
regarding their cultivation, know how marketing etc. This year work on
following ten species is already started. Species are (Commifora mukul,
Azadirachta indica, Citriulus colocynthis, Aloes, Euphorbia caudicifolia,
Calotropis procera, Acacia Senegal, Acacia nilotica, Tamarind-us indica and
Cassia angustifolia). Next year another group of ten species will be tested.
c. Profitable utilization of
desert lands and possible desertification control
1. Live herbarium
studies
100 plant species maintained in live herbarium at AZRI
Umerkot most of them are growing very well. Soils are sandy, 93% coarse and
fine sand and only 7% silt plus clay. This shows that either these species are
deep rooted and utilizes deep under ground water or have mechanism to get
moisture from atmosphere. Due to good rains there is good vegetation cover,
which has checked wind erosion. This year 2006 there were relatively good
showers of rain, Up to 2006 nearly 340 mm of rain are recorded.
List of the Scientists with email address
|
S. No. |
Name |
E-mail Address |
|
01 |
Mr. Yar Muhammad Memon,
PSO/ Director |
azri_uk@hotmail.com |
|
02 |
Mr. Ghulam Shabir Bohio,
SSO |
|
|
03 |
Mr. Fateh Khan Nizamani,
SSO |
|
|
04 |
Mr. Ali Sher
Chandio, SO |
|
|
05 |
Mr. Hamz Ali Samoon, AAE |
|
|
06 |
Mr. Muhammad Waseem, ASO |
|
RESOURCE PERSON:
|
Dr.
Yar Muhammad Memon
PSO/ Director |
|
|
Dr. Hamz Ali Samoon |
Last updated: January, 2008
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